The “Cap NY Property Taxes – A Citizen's Guide” website will help inform, educate, and stimulate the property tax debate.It will also provide citizens with the tools they need to help to push their leaders to reduce their property taxes, including instructions for how to consolidate or dissolve duplicative and overlapping layers of government that contribute to the tax burden.

“Every New Yorker should visit the‘CitizenConnects’ website, which informs residents about their local tax burdens and offers them solutions to help lower runaway property taxes,” said Hannon.“New York State has the highest local taxes in America as a percentage of national income.”

Nassau County residents pay the highest property taxes in the nation, when measured in total dollars paid, according to Governor Cuomo.

“After years of trying, we were finally able to institute a tax cap, which requires local governments and school districts to limit to two percent their budget growth, or to that of inflation,” said Senator Hannon.

Nearly 85 percent of the municipalities in New York State have adopted the tax cap in their budgets.Ultimately, however, it is still up to the localities to decide whether they want to stay within the cap.

“The Governor has said, ‘The cap is about putting you and your neighbors back in control of your community’s spending’,” said Hannon.“We wrote the law to bring the nation’s highest property taxes under control, but localities can increase above the cap if sixty percent of the community or governing board approve.”

Senator Hannon urges all New Yorkers to visit CitizenConnects and to click on the “Reforming Government: Cap New York Taxes – A Citizen’s Guide.”